James Roscoe Day


The Rev. James Roscoe Day, D.D., L.L.D. was an American Methodist minister, educator and chancellor of Syracuse University.

Early life

Day was born in Whitneyville, Maine, on June 7, 1845. He studied at Bowdoin College and was in 1872 ordained a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was pastor at Bath, Maine, from 1872 to 1874; Portland, Maine, from 1876 to 1878; Boston, Massachusetts, from 1881 to 1882; New York City, 1883 to 1885 and 1889 to 1893.

Syracuse University

Day became chancellor of Syracuse University in 1893. He was elected bishop in 1904, but declined the post to stay at Syracuse.
Day is credited with helping to greatly expand the University as several important buildings were constructed during his tenure including the Archbold Gymnasium, Bowne Hall, Carnegie Library, Goldstein Faculty Center, Lyman Hall, Machinery Hall, Slocum Hall, Sims Hall, Smith Hall, Steel Hall and the Tolley Administration Building.

Writing

Day was an author and wrote The Raid on Prosperity and My Neighbor the Workingman.

Death

Day died in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on March 13, 1923.